Le Petit Zinc

My wife and I enjoyed a very good meal at Le Petit Zinc on Sunday 31 August. We did however feel that the overall experience was slightly let down by the rather hit and miss service. The welcome was warm and friendly, and our aperitif and food orders were taken quickly (although this was when the restaurant was only half-full at 8pm). Both entrees and mains arrived in good time and were excellent (although my wife complained that her steak could have been hotter). Chicken with creamy wild mushroom risotto was absolutely delicious. Unfortunately, having finished our main dishes, we then sat looking at our empty plates for at least 45 minutes before I eventually lost patience and had to flag down a waiter to clear our table and offer us dessert menus. Thereafter, the service was again well-paced. Oh, and the profiteroles were simply divine. We were in no hurry, so weren't hugely put out by the wait, but to do so with empty plates (and glasses) made us feel like we had been completely forgotten by the staff which was a real shame as it was the only downside to an otherwise lovely experience.
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Richard, London
Monday, September 01, 2008

Hopeless. Having booked a table at this restaurant for 8.30pm one Saturday evening, I was surprised when our group of four arrived to be told that we would have to wait 20-30 minutes for a table. There was no problem with the booking - they had a record of it and I spoke to the same waitress that I had made the booking with earlier that day. But apparently I had "not chosen a good time to book for" and it was "normal to wait when you have a reservation". Since there was apparently no bar area in which we could sit we were given the option of standing outside or returning in 30 minutes. In an attempt to salvage the evening I agreed to do this, and so we popped into a nearby bar for a drink. On returning at 9pm and speaking to the same staff again I was surprised to be told that I must wait "at least 15-20 minutes" more for our table. When I queried politely why there appeared to be four empty tables (each with four seats) in the middle of the restaurant I was told that "there is no waiter for these tables".

At this point I took the only sensible decision available and we had a very pleasant meal in a restaurant around the corner run by people who know what they are doing.
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Monday, August 11, 2008

visited this just by 'accident' on recent trip to paris with my daughter - we had been walking around shopping for about 9 hours and this was just nearby when we decided it was time to stop for the day - waited outside for a little bit but no problem sitting at the little cafe table with a glass of wine while we waited - everything great from food, service, atmosphere - would definitely go again - risotto was esp flavourful, creamy and delicious
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michele toronto
Monday, August 11, 2008

So I am not the only one....Special trip to Paris spoilt by a visit to Zinc....terrible service....average food....nice place.....high prices. The French family at the next table had wonderful service and their food looked good. I think its a case of welcoming tourist euros.....
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Dr Hanif Ismail
Wednesday, August 06, 2008

I have enjoyed this restaurant on two different trips, the first being in March of 2006, the second visit in April of 2007. Both visits were extremely enjoyable.

The service was competent, the food- excellent, the wine list, quite good, and the atmosphere exceptional. I always recommend this gem to friends heading to Paris, and all have been pleased with the choice.
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T. Duerringer
Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Food was not exceptional, but we found service and atmosphere a lot of fun. Especially enjoyed the "Zinc" cocktails. We had a great evening! For visitors and tourists not used to the Parisian way, service might seem slow. Diners just need to sit back and enjoy the moment.....no hurry, no worry.
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Dreadful restaurant with no idea of service.One hour and ten minutes wait for our first course which was unremarkable. When we pointed out the delay--very politely- the waiter shrugged and said "I know" "I am very busy and there should be someone else helping me. I found this difficult to understand as he was only waiting 4 tables.

My main course was tasteless and cold-my husbands meal was a slice of liver with some sort of dry baked potato -no soured cream-nothing and not even a sprig of parsley as garnish. Look in the door to see the style of the decor then go elsewhere for dinner. It is not particularly cheap so spend your money wisely.
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Sunday, February 10, 2008

Had diner here last saturday. After being served starters; a partly frozen goat-cheese-salad , we should have left. The dish wasn't charged, but no excuses were made.

Main course was a well-done steak where a medium stake was ordered. Reasonnably cooked, but most certainly not good enough for it's price. We were served just one drink during this, where we would have expected at least two. Left after the main course to have dessert somewhere else.
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Jasper
Monday, February 04, 2008

Had dinner here last Saturday evening with my wife, having read some very promising reviews. It was a truly awful evening.

I can barely bring myself to relive the evening by going into too much detail. But suffice it to say that the service was terrible, food no better. €150 for a really poor meal with a half bottle of ordinary plonk. Tacky and offensive. You can do much much better than this in Paris.
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Andrew
Thursday, January 24, 2008